When Michael returned to the shore, he was quiet just handed a tiny box to Mallory and started to dress.
When they got back to the manor, Mallory hid the coat to its usual place and then place the box atop of a table in Michael's room. The baron has still not said anything, so Mallory left him without his dismissal.
Michael could not sleep, the tune still ringing in his ears, he remembers his brother, Devan, Michael had once envied him, because he was able to become the free spirited child he could never be, there was a lot of expectations from him being the eldest child. Despite that, he loved him dearly, he was happy for him when he was happy. Michael took in the burden of the house and title so Devan does not need to be like him or their father, cold, distant, and calculating.
But remembering his brother or mother would eventually make him remember his father and his madness. He remembers his father's blood crusted hands from his recent hunt in the sea, two white seals. Michael did not show his fear, he was taught not to, to show only strength, but he knew deep down what this may mean, however, when the former baron did not look for his wife and son, Michael realized that he did not kill them by accident. Michael curled himself onto his bed, trying to numb the pain.
As Mallory heads back to the maid's sleeping quarters, she began to worry about Michael, when he returned, he looked broken and sad, was it a good idea to leave him?. Mallory paced a couple of times before finally deciding to go back to Michael's rooms.
When she was at his door, he could hear him sob, she again hesitated, but steeled herself to open the door and to know what was happening to the young baron.
Michael did not stop when the door opened as if he did not hear anything, so lost in his grief. Mallory approached him slowly and called out to him a couple of times, using only his name instead of his title, but he did not answer.
When Mallory was beside him in his bed she was startled when Michael sat and grabbed her by the waist and wrapped his arms around her, he was still sobbing, whispering "don't leave me", she can feel his tears soaking her dress. Mallory hesitated for a bit before she started to caress his head and repeatedly said "I'll stay" and "I won't leave" to trying to calm him down, when it didn't work, she hummed the melody of the song that calls to her everyday.
When morning came, Michael found himself sleeping on the floor with his arms wrapped around something small, soft, and warm, when he looked up, she saw Mallory sleeping while she sat against the wall, one of her hands was lightly resting atop his head and the other was intertwined with his own.
Michael knew she was small, but he didn't realize that she was that small that his arm perfectly fits around her waist.
Mallory stirred a bit from her sleep and Michael finally realized that he is still holding onto her, so he carefully moved away, surprisingly, she did not wake.
Michael stared at Mallory's sleeping form, from her beautifully curled chestnut hair, her button nose, her soft pinkish lips, to her petite body. He could hear her soft snores and finds it adorable. However, he couldn't let Mallory stay a bit longer on the floor, it seems very uncomfortable. When he reached for her to wake her up, his hands instead drifted to move a lock of her hair that obscured her face, then lightly caressed her cheek. Her skin was so soft, then he smiled and whispered, "You were right brother". When Mallory started to wake, he quickly pulled away, lest he be caught.
Mallory blinked a couple of times and she sees Michael in front of her, she looked around a bit and remembered where she was, embarrassed, she quickly sat properly and apologized to the young baron.
Michael's face showed no emotion, unlike last night.
"Are you awake now Mallory?", the young baron asked and Mallory nodded.
"I have a long day ahead, prepare my clothes and get my breakfast, I'll just be taking a bath", then Michael stood from his spot in the floor. When Mallory tried to stand, Michael offered his hand to help her as the gentleman that he is, she smiled at him and accepted his helping hand.
Mallory quickly excused herself and left the room. Once Michael was alone again, he just realized something odd, this was the first time he had slept without nightmares in so very long.